''Sweethearts and Wives'' is a 1930 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

film with comedic elements produced and released by

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

and directed by

Clarence G. Badger Clarence G. Badger (June 9, 1880 – June 17, 1964) was an American film director of feature films in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. His films include ''It (1927 film), It'' and ''Red Hair (film), Red Hair'', more than a dozen features and shorts st ...

. The film stars

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

Clive Brook Clifford Hardman "Clive" Brook (1 June 1887 – 17 November 1974) was an English film actor. After making his first screen appearance in 1920, Brook emerged as a leading British actor in the early 1920s. After moving to the United States ...

Sidney Blackmer Sidney Alderman Blackmer (July 13, 1895 – October 6, 1973) was an American Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles. Biography Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina, t ...

and

Leila Hyams Leila Hyams (May 1, 1905 – December 4, 1977) was an American film and stage actress, model, and vaudevillian, who came from a show business family. Her relatively short film career began in 1924 during the era of silent films and ended in 193 ...

. The film was based on the 1928 West End play '' Other Men's Wives'' by Walter C. Hackett.

Plot

Billie Dove plays the part of an aristocrat who tries to prevent her sister's divorce by attempting to recover of a diamond necklace, which is being used as incriminating evidence against her. This necklace was stolen when Dove's sister while she was secretly in another's man apartment. Dove is to meet a thief at a lonely French Inn outside of Paris who has stolen the necklace. Dove quickly disguises herself as a French maid. Unfortunately the thief is killed by someone who enters the house just as she was about to regain the diamonds. At this point, Sidney Blackmer, who has come in search of some one to fix his car and sell him some gas, arrives at the Inn. Blackmer is in an awkward position himself as he is having an affair with a married woman, played by Leila Hyams, and they are both fearful lest her husband learn of this escapade. Dove reveals that she is not a maid but an English aristocrat. The police and Clive Brook soon arrives at the house, playing the part of a divorce detective, who is secretly working to find the diamond necklace to return it to the husband of the woman who lost it. Hyams switches into Dove's maid costume in order to escape detection from Brook and the police. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the murder of the thief. Soon after the waiter and hotel clerk steal Blackmer's repaired car and take off. As the film progresses, Blackmer and Dove soon grow fond of each other and fall in love. Dove confides in Blackmer and he helps her find the necklace. In the process of recovering the necklace, three of the thieves end up being killed. In the end, Dove manages to retrieve the necklace back and save her sister from a scandalous divorce.

Cast

as Femme de Chambre *

as Reginald De Brett *

as Anthony Peel *

as Angela Worthington *

Albert Gran Albert Gran (August 4, 1862 – December 16, 1932) was a Norwegian-born American stage and film actor. He is most associated with his appearance in drama and light comedy films. Biography Albert Gran was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the s ...

as Police Inspector *

Crauford Kent Crauford Kent (12 October 1881 – 14 May 1953) was an English character actor based in the United States. He has also been credited as Craufurd Kent

as Sir John Deptford * John Loder as Sam Worthington *

Rolfe Sedan Rolfe Sedan (born Edward Sedan; January 20, 1896 – September 15, 1982) was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters, etc. Ea ...

as Waiter

Preservation

The film survives complete. It was transferred on to 16mm film by

Associated Artists Productions Associated Artists Productions, Inc. (a.a.p.) later known as United Artists Associated was an American distributor of theatrical feature films and subjects for television. Associated Artists Productions was the copyright owner of the ''Popeye ...

in the 1957 and shown on television. A 16mm copy is housed at the Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research. The Library of Congress also maintains a print of the film.''Catalog of Holdings, The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'' p. 178, c. 1978 by The American Film Institute.

References

External links

* * {{Clarence G. Badger 1930 films First National Pictures films 1930s English-language films American mystery films American black-and-white films Films directed by Clarence G. Badger American films based on plays 1930 mystery films Films set in France 1930s American films